Impressions on - Genelec G3, Streamer (TBA), Subwoofer (TBA), Cables (TBA)

[chander]

As finally I was able to spend some time with my office setup to clean up/wire manage & organise. Photos of the setup where I spend most of my time of the day during weekdays.



The latest addition to my setup the "spotify frame" either sits here as in the photo or sits next to me where ever I am as music/wiim controller.






The subwoofer is hidden under the desk, where it is kinda invisible and sounds fantastic




A Nano Fish tank is ready to move in to the vicinity (you can see it on the extreme left) as my Shrimp + ramshorn/nerite snail Walstad tank with perhaps a few nano fish to balance the ecosystem. For those who are wondering if the tank may have a detrimental effect on the sound quality of the system. I have measured the output with a REW microphone, with the tank empty and filled and neither the mic, nor my ears pic up any difference. So I guess it should be fine.

 

[chander]

The tourist season is at it's peak in GOA, as always I am requesting friends to bring their devices along "IF POSSIBLE" - for some A/B at my house in my setup.

So in the last couple weeks - I had the following -
1 - ARCAM CDS50 with around 10 CDs
2 - LUMIN U2 Mini - Transport

ARCAM CDS50 Vs RME ADI 2 FS - So CD player as a transport.

• Mostly positive compared to the Wiim Pro + Spotify. Primarily instrument separation on Pearl Jam TEN album.
• Output much cleaner at low volumes.
• Very neutral sound, clean and enjoyable. No Fatigue.

ARCAM CDS50 - as an AIO - CDS50 to Subwoofer directly using XLR analog.

• Warmer & Slight muddiness compared to the setup above.
• More bass somehow compared to the setup above, not a positive.
• Still better than Wiim Pro + Spotify.

LUMIN U2 Mini - Transport

• If I am asked to pick the Lumin U2 Mini vs Wiim Pro in a blind test with RME ADI 2 DAC FS, I will never manage.
• I connected Lumin on Optical with a Chord clearway optical cable & Wiim Pro with Coax from Chord to the RME - so I could shuffle between the two devices. I volume matched them to the best of my ability with average volume around 70DB.
• Differences that did appear were song dependent, with no preference for either device. SO.

A test with Qobuz -

• A physical CD had it's merits. Qobuz vs CD - I thought will be close to indiscernible - NOT really.

MY FINDINGS -

• I was impressed by how good the physical CD was - specially in terms of instrument separation & clarity (on display during Black Dog - Led Zep IV) The cymbals hit different here - they shimmered. Again not saying that it was night and day but very apparent & enjoyable.
• The difference between the two streamers with the same DAC was un-noticeable with Spotify & Qobuz.
• Given the clear advantages of a CD over Spotify (atleast) - I still do not think I have the patience to go through the effort required. Moreover I am in love with the radio feature of streaming services. SO knowing I am listening to something definitely inferior (in Spotify), I will stick with streamers and HOPE & WAIT for a perfect streaming solution.

NEXT test an LP player - but it will be impossible to convince anyone to bring it along.


****DISCLAIMERS -
These tests were neither very scientific nor were they blind. So bias would have some role to play.

 

[DB1989]

The tourist season is at it's peak in GOA, as always I am requesting friends to bring their devices along "IF POSSIBLE" - for some A/B at my house in my setup.

So in the last couple weeks - I had the following -
1 - ARCAM CDS50 with around 10 CDs
2 - LUMIN U2 Mini - Transport

ARCAM CDS50 Vs RME ADI 2 FS - So CD player as a transport.

• Mostly positive compared to the Wiim Pro + Spotify. Primarily instrument separation on Pearl Jam TEN album.
• Output much cleaner at low volumes.
• Very neutral sound, clean and enjoyable. No Fatigue.

ARCAM CDS50 - as an AIO - CDS50 to Subwoofer directly using XLR analog.

• Warmer & Slight muddiness compared to the setup above.
• More bass somehow compared to the setup above, not a positive.
• Still better than Wiim Pro + Spotify.

LUMIN U2 Mini - Transport

• If I am asked to pick the Lumin U2 Mini vs Wiim Pro in a blind test with RME ADI 2 DAC FS, I will never manage.
• I connected Lumin on Optical with a Chord clearway optical cable & Wiim Pro with Coax from Chord to the RME - so I could shuffle between the two devices. I volume matched them to the best of my ability with average volume around 70DB.
• Differences that did appear were song dependent, with no preference for either device. SO.

A test with Qobuz -

• A physical CD had it's merits. Qobuz vs CD - I thought will be close to indiscernible - NOT really.

MY FINDINGS -

• I was impressed by how good the physical CD was - specially in terms of instrument separation & clarity (on display during Black Dog - Led Zep IV) The cymbals hit different here - they shimmered. Again not saying that it was night and day but very apparent & enjoyable.
• The difference between the two streamers with the same DAC was un-noticeable with Spotify & Qobuz.
• Given the clear advantages of a CD over Spotify (atleast) - I still do not think I have the patience to go through the effort required. Moreover I am in love with the radio feature of streaming services. SO knowing I am listening to something definitely inferior (in Spotify), I will stick with streamers and HOPE & WAIT for a perfect streaming solution.

NEXT test an LP player - but it will be impossible to convince anyone to bring it along.


****DISCLAIMERS -
These tests were neither very scientific nor were they blind. So bias would have some role to play.

Spotify has a slightly muddier sound compared to other streaming services such as Apple and TIdal. Dynamics and treble performance are discernibly superior in Apple. Unfortunately, you'll have to resort to a PC/Ipad for playback or the Fiio R7 / Eversolo A6 / A8.

 

[chander]

Spotify has a slightly muddier sound compared to other streaming services such as Apple and TIdal. Dynamics and treble performance are discernibly superior in Apple. Unfortunately, you'll have to resort to a PC/Ipad for playback or the Fiio R7 / Eversolo A6 / A8.

I use my MacBook primarily to play music.

Can't get used to Apple Music UI, also I always find it bass heavy.

Waiting on Qobuz to steal Spotify UI